Emily Mendelson - Public Writing

Emily Mendelson

PUBLIC WRITING

Below are some of my recent articles for Dr. Justin Lehmiller's Sex and Psychology blog and podcast. Learn more at www.sexandpsychology.com!

The State Of Dating Entering 2026 - Sex and Psychology2025 dating trends give us insight into the dating landscape in the new year. Finding a partner will be all about authenticity and organic connections.

The Firefly Journey: Gender and Sexuality Exploration Later in Life - Sex and PsychologyThis year at the SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference, a project that stood out to me was Dr. Mallory Hanfling’s project on “fireflies,” or people who learn about their gender and/or sexuality later in life. Her work struck me because this is something we don’t often hear about. While we have a number of studies that investigate...

More Than Monogamy: A New Film All About Open Relationships - Sex and PsychologyWhen it comes to relationships, monogamy is usually the default. The person with whom you have sex is the person you are also romantically committed to. However, monogamy doesn’t work well for everyone. For example, some people find that it’s restrictive to their personal growth and/or their ability to fully explore their sexuality. It is reasons...

How Many People Are Having Sex While Driving? - Sex and PsychologyCars are usually thought of as practical tools: they’re machines that get us from point A to point B. Culturally, however, they’ve also become erotic spaces. From steamy movie scenes to fantasies about giving or receiving oral sex while driving, the moving vehicle has long had a place in our sexual imagination. But how often...

How Alcohol Affects Sexual Consent Communication - Sex and PsychologyAlcohol has long been known to act as a “social lubricant,” especially when it comes to the pursuit of sex and relationships. When people drink, they tend to feel less inhibited by social cues and, therefore, may feel less anxiety about flirting or approaching someone. Although alcohol can facilitate communication in this way, the interaction...

Effects Of Menstruation You Probably Don't Know About - Sex and PsychologyMenstruation has a number of effects on both the brain and body that no one ever talks about in sex ed.

Understanding the Modern-Day Hysterectomy - Sex and PsychologyGet It Out, a new book by Dr. Andréa Becker, investigates the politics of hysterectomy in modern-day life.

Themes Of Sexual Choking On TikTok - Sex and PsychologySocial media depictions of sexual choking may popularize common misconceptions about this practice.

What It's Like To Date An AI Chatbot - Sex and PsychologyNew research explores people's experiences with dating AI chatbots, including what it's like to fall in love with generative AI.

Why Do Young Adults Hook Up? - Sex and PsychologyIn this post, we’re looking at some of the research exploring why young people hook-up and the nature of hookup culture itself.

The Experiences of LGBTQ Adults in 2025 - Sex and PsychologyHow much do LGBTQ Americans feel accepted today? A recent survey of nearly 4,000 adults offers revealing insight.

How Dobbs Has Affected Individuals’ Sexual Health Decisions - Sex and PsychologyHere's a look at how the overturning of abortion rights in the United States is impacting sexual and reproductive health.

How Do Psychedelics Affect Our Intimate Experiences? - Sex and PsychologyNew research explores how the use of psychedelics impact sexual, gender, and intimate relationship dynamics.

The Fascinating History of Selling Food and Selling Sex - Sex and PsychologyThere's a rich connection between food and sex that has a very long history, which is the subject of the new book Lustful Appetites.

The State of Sex Education in the USA in 2025 - Sex and PsychologyHere's where sex education stands around the country as we enter another new year. Spoiler alert: it's not pretty.

The Technological Aspects of Sexting - Sex and PsychologySexting is an increasingly common form of sexual expression. But how is it affecting us? And how is sexting changing as modern technology evolves?

The Rise of Sexual Choking Among Young Adults - Sex and PsychologySexual choking is on the rise among young adults, but it carries some health risks. Dr. Debby Herbenick shares what you need to know.

Can Drugs and Medications Be Transferred Through Semen? - Sex and PsychologyDrugs and medications can show up in semen, and research suggests that this can lead to allergic reactions and failed drug tests.

What Do Camsite Users Learn About Sexual Consent? - Sex and PsychologyAs technology continues to evolve, there are an increasing number of ways to connect with others and experience digital intimacy. In other words, it’s easier than ever to explore sex and romance through mediated channels, and this has increasingly become a focus of sexuality research. Today, we’re going to talk about an article that was...

What Does It Mean When People are "Just Talking?" - Sex and PsychologyThe proliferation of social media has turbocharged the ever-evolving lexicon of ways to talk about romantic and sexual behaviors. This includes everything from the soft launch technique for relationship disclosure to what it means if you ghost another person to what exactly a situationship is. Today, we’re going to discuss new research out of the Binghamton...

Can a TikTok Trend Determine Your Relationship Quality? - Sex and PsychologyDid preparing for Valentine’s Day feel a little extra stressful this year? If so, you might have social media (and, in particular, TikTok) to blame. For example, among the many trends we’ve recently seen are girlfriends putting their boyfriends up for “sale” if they haven’t been asked to be their Valentine. Even if the videos...

Is It Possible To "Over-Swipe" On Dating Apps? - Sex and PsychologyIt’s estimated that the average American looking for love online will swipe almost 4,000 times on a dating app before finding a romantic partner. This number is a bit lower for Gen Z (about 3,500 swipes) while it is much higher for Boomers, who are projected to swipe over 6,000 times on average before finding...

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